Get ready to pamper your taste buds and protect your teeth against
decay at the same time as a new research has revealed that
cranberries are an important weapon in fighting tooth decay. The
British Dental Health Foundation (BDHF) has said that cranberries can
prevent a host of oral health problems, including gum disease and
tooth decay. Following up on a research carried out by the University
of Rochester in New York, the BDHF discovered that cranberry juice
stopped harmful bacteria sticking to the teeth. Cranberry juice also
ensures that plaque never gets a chance to form. "Cranberry juice is
naturally very acidic. Every time you drink something acidic the
enamel on your teeth is softened temporarily. If given time to
recover, then your saliva will neutralize this acidity in your mouth
and restore it to its natural balance," says Dr. Nigel Carter, chief
executive of the British Dental Health Foundation. However, the
researchers have cautioned that the intake of cranberries should be
limited to only the meal times as its excess can have some harmful
effects. "However, if this attack happens too often the mouth does
not have the chance to repair itself and tiny particles of enamel can
be brushed away. This is called erosion. Erosion can cause pain and
sensitivity in the teeth, and once the enamel has worn away can also
leave your teeth open to decay too - so try to keep cranberry juice
to mealtimes only," Dr. Carter added.

* High-Pressure Deadlines Boost Heart-Attack Risk

People who are under short-term but intense pressure to meet
deadlines run a six times higher risk of having a heart attack within
the next 24 hours, according to a study published in the "Journal of
Epidemiology and Community Health." Men were 80 percent more likely
to have a heart attack if they had experienced a conflict at work
within the preceding 12 months, and the risk increased further if
they felt strongly affected, according to the study. The researchers
analyzed first heart attacks in more than 3,500 people, most of whom
took part in the Stockholm Heart Epidemiology Programme or SHEEP.

* DVT Info

Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) is a blood clot that can form in the legs
or pelvis when a person is confined to a constricted space for a long
period. Besides being painful, DVT can turn fatal if fragments of the
clot dislodge and travel to the lungs where they can trigger a
pulmonary embolism. Airline passengers who find themselves sitting
for hours during a long flight are particularly susceptible to
developing DVT. By some estimates, as many as 100,000 airline
passengers may die from complications associated with DVT every year.

One of the most important things to be aware of with DVT is that it
can strike healthy people who have no previous cardiovascular
problems. In fact, people who exercise regularly are at somewhat
greater risk of DVT complications because they tend to have low
resting pulse, which may help prompt DVT during long periods of
inactivity.

Others who may be at greater risk of DVT include:

- Those who have previously experienced DVT.
- Those with a family history of DVT.
- Anyone who has experienced trauma to the legs.
- Those who have recently had surgery on the legs, feet, or in the
abdominal or pelvic areas.
- Those who may suffer from diabetes, heart or liver disease, or
certain cancers, such as colon, ovarian, stomach, liver, pancreatic,
or lymphatic cancers.
- Obese people.
- Those over the age of 40.

* Cool Your Temper

Are you a hot head? A less hostile outlook may help keep your heart
rhythms steady. Studies in men revealed that men who are generally
hostile or often openly angry may have as much as a 30% greater risk
of developing irregular heart rhythms, such as atrial fibrillation.
Atrial fibrillation is a risk factor for stroke. Instead, try to keep
calm and under control even if something makes you irate. Taking a
walk, counting to 20, practicing some deep breathing, and doing so
stretching can all help to relieve the tension you may want to let
out. Instead of yelling or getting worked up, recognize that
something is making you angry and do what you can to either eliminate
it or avoid it. If you can keep your temper under control, you could
be saving your heart hundreds of unnecessary beats.